The imperfect subjunctive in -ra (theoretically not in -se) can replace the conditional in (1), although it is considered a bit archaic. However, the pluperfect subjunctive (e.g. hubiera dado) can replace the conditional perfect (e.g. habría dado), not only in (2), but in all situations. Particularly, this replacement in (2) is common even in literary and formal Spanish.

However, the conditionals cannot replace the imperfect and pluperfect after "si": "Si habría venido..." is not acceptable in standard Spanish.

I know all three can be used in the second clause, but I also know that "habría" is the more preferred grammatical choice, while hubiera would be used more in everyday talk. My professor says it's like "splitting hairs", but there is a subtle difference. I'm just wondering what it is?

Habría dado, if you'll notice, is in the conditional (perfect) and is used because you are referring to an event that would have required that some other condition (stated in the "if clause") have been met first before the condition could have been considered true.

On the other hand, the use of hubiera sido (had been) is used to refer to a hypothetical condition of the past (calls for past perfect subjunctive), i.e. the speaker has never been a millionaire, but had he been one then he would have given his friends lots of money.

The structure in English is actually fairly similar to that used in English. If you would like a fairly easy to follow explanation in Spanish, you might try looking up the entry for si in the DPD (especially 1.1.2.b)

I know all three can be used in the second clause, but I also know that "habría" is the more preferred grammatical choice, while hubiera would be used more in everyday talk. My professor says it's like "splitting hairs", but there is a subtle difference. I'm just wondering what it is?

I'm sorry. I completely missed the second half of your question.

A conditional sentence is logically arranged into two parts, (1) a condition–also known as the protasis–and (2) the consequence of said condition–known as the apodosis.

The protasis can be viewed as either being factual or counterfactual, and as such, can carry a verb in either the indicative or subjunctive, respectively.

The apodosis, on the other hand, is viewed as a condition of the protasis, and because of this, if it (the protasis) is considered factual then the result clause (apodosis) will carry a verb in the indicative to describe what does or will happen as a result. If on the other hand, the condition is considered counterfactual then–in languages which carry a designated conditional verb form–a conditional verb form is required to describe what would happen or what would have happened if the event in the protasis were true or had been true.

Since Spanish is one of those languages which does indeed carry a designated conditional verb form, it is understandable that some might consider this form the more appropriate or "standard" form to use in apodoses which describe the results of a hypothetical condition.

In any case, and as Guillermo has already made clear in his comments above, sometimes its more important to know what is actually used than to know what "should" be considered "correct."

Interestingly, because of it's reliance on modal auxiliaries, In English there does not always appear a clear distinction between the subjunctive and the conditional either, as illustrated in the following examples.

►I wish that he would leave. [subjunctive meaning - present]
►If I were him, I would leave. [conditional]

►I wish that he would have left. [subjunctive meaning - past]
►If I had been him, I would have left. [conditional]

This is an excellent explanation and the point about usage versus grammatical correctness is a good one. I just wanted to point out that in your sentences, "If I had been him..." is what is used, but grammatically "If I had been he/Had I been he..." is co - ElenaM4 Oct 2, 2013flag

rrect. Sometimes it's helpful to remember that we do the same in English. - ElenaM4 Oct 2, 2013flag

As has been discussed in other threads, the habitual connection between the conditional and the past subjunctive is so strong that these tenses are sometimes used when the past event is actually a well established fact. The extent to which this extends to perfect constructions is probably regional. This is also true of nouns where there is one synonym that is so strongly preferred that you will be corrected if you don't use it.

Popular Conjugations

SpanishDict is devoted to improving our site based on user feedback and introducing new and innovative features that will continue to help people learn and love the Spanish language. Have a suggestion, idea, or comment? Send us your feedback.

Your nameEmail addressSubjectMessage

Make Your Voice Heard

You've been randomly selected to participate in a short, 5 question
survey on your experience with SpanishDict. We'll use your comments
to help improve your experience.Will you participate?